It's been a long few days/weeks/months/years/decades for the Kentucky football program. UK football fans have been Charlie Brown for about 62 years now, and the rest of the college football world has been Lucy. When you think about it, how much of a miracle is it that UK football has the fans that they have? This week, many of those fans will stay at the house. Commonwealth Stadium will have more fans this week than the Vandy game in 2012, but that's not saying much. And who can blame them? UK football is currently a dysfunctional, disorganized mess (both on the field and off). I have a feeling this is one of those seasons that, once it ends, we'll hear some mind numbing crap about what was going on with the staff and within the locker room. That's down the road though. This week, UK gets Charlotte. It should be an easy win. Charlotte has been getting hammered pretty much weekly. BUT, who knows. UK has enough talent to play with most teams, but they cut their own throats enough to lose to almost anybody. Which Kentucky will show up? Probably a little of both.
Records: Kentucky 4-6 (2-6), Charlotte 2-8 (0-7)
Line (5dimes): Kentucky +24.5
Series: 1st Meeting
Game time/Television: 7:30 eastern/SEC Network Alternate
Kentucky offense vs. Charlotte defense: Advantage Kentucky
The only storyline that will interest most people this week is Drew Barker getting his first college start. Barker came in last week against Vandy and had mixed results. Whenever you think about this offense though, the first thought has to be the OL and how they'll matchup against the other teams front seven. Clearly, the 49ers defensive front is mostly putrid, but they're apparently pretty active. That shouldn't really matter this week, but you never know. UK's OL played a pretty solid game in Nashville (IMO, their best performance of the season), so as long as they took time to prepare this week (and that can be a challenge when the environment is toxic, and you have to wonder about that locker room right now), they should play well. Mostly, I hope this week starts a kind of heeling process for this team. Barker offers the team a fresh start. The opponent is putrid. Kentucky still has plenty of skill talent, though I wonder how hard Baker is playing at this point (thought he kind of quit on some blocks last weekend). So what to expect? If it was Towles, I'd expect more of the same. I think Barker will equal a breath of fresh air. Combine that with a God-awful opponent, and I think this offense will have a very productive day. Then again, I've thought that all season long.
Kentucky defense vs. Charlotte offense: Advantage Kentucky
Lost in last weeks debacle in Nashville was a solid performance by the UK defense. Granted, they were playing on offense that would probably punt more often than not in a game against Trinity, but give them their due. Take away that trick play, and UK would have allowed around 250 yards and no significant drives. This week, they get a Charlotte offense that is probably on par with Vandy's. The 49ers play a couple of QB's. The one that stands out is backup Matt Johnson. The junior is a dual threat that played quite a bit in last weeks loss to Texas-San Antonio (including the overtime). Johnson is a mediocre/poor passer and average runner, but we all know what UK's defense can make average players look like. RB Kalif Phillips is closing in on 1000 yards, but he injured a knee last week and didn't return. He's expected to play against UK. Overall, the 49ers are run heavy offensively. Charlotte's workhorse WR is JR Austin Duke. Duke has nearly double the number of receptions (47) as the next receiver (25). Overall, expect a lot of run and quick passes (and probably punts). This is a matchup that Kentucky should win with ease.
Special Teams: Advantage Charlotte
I know NOTHING about the 49ers special teams, but I know they can't be any worse than Kentucky's. Seriously, I don't know that a special teams unit could be worse than what we have in Lexington. In less than two years, Kentucky has allowed SIX returns for touchdown. I'm betting there are programs that haven't allowed six this century (UK hasn't had one in five years). The returns are just part of the problem. UK has had penalties BEFORE field goals and punts. UK gets a flag on virtually every PR. Landon Foster has been awful this season. At least we have MacGinnis!
Charlotte will win if...hell freezes over. Yeah, I'm that confident Probably shouldn't be, but I am.
Kentucky will win if...they show up and spend at least half of the day not killing themselves.
Most important thing for Kentucky...get Drew Barker as many snaps as they can.
Prediction...Kentucky 45 Charlotte 13...Last week, I picked UK to score 17. A minor miracle considering some of my other picks. This week, UK should score more than 45, but we all know they'll cost themselves at least 21 points with mental errors. With that being said, I think the presence of Barker will give UK some renewed energy. Charlotte scores on a kick return and two field goals after UK turnovers (LOLOL).
Previous Picks
Kentucky 55 Louisiana 10 (UK 40-33)
Kentucky 34 S Carolina 31 (UK 26-22)
Kentucky 27 Florida 23 (UF 14-9)
Kentucky 24 Missouri 17 (UK 21-13)
Kentucky 48 EKU 10 (UK 34-27)
Kentucky 31 Auburn 24 (AU 30-27)
Miss St 38 Kentucky 31 (MSU 42-16)
Tennessee 38 Kentucky 37 (UT 52-21)
Georgia 27 Kentucky 17 (UGA 27-3)
Kentucky 17 Vanderbilt 10 (VU 21-17)
GBB!!!
Records: Kentucky 4-6 (2-6), Charlotte 2-8 (0-7)
Line (5dimes): Kentucky +24.5
Series: 1st Meeting
Game time/Television: 7:30 eastern/SEC Network Alternate
Kentucky offense vs. Charlotte defense: Advantage Kentucky
The only storyline that will interest most people this week is Drew Barker getting his first college start. Barker came in last week against Vandy and had mixed results. Whenever you think about this offense though, the first thought has to be the OL and how they'll matchup against the other teams front seven. Clearly, the 49ers defensive front is mostly putrid, but they're apparently pretty active. That shouldn't really matter this week, but you never know. UK's OL played a pretty solid game in Nashville (IMO, their best performance of the season), so as long as they took time to prepare this week (and that can be a challenge when the environment is toxic, and you have to wonder about that locker room right now), they should play well. Mostly, I hope this week starts a kind of heeling process for this team. Barker offers the team a fresh start. The opponent is putrid. Kentucky still has plenty of skill talent, though I wonder how hard Baker is playing at this point (thought he kind of quit on some blocks last weekend). So what to expect? If it was Towles, I'd expect more of the same. I think Barker will equal a breath of fresh air. Combine that with a God-awful opponent, and I think this offense will have a very productive day. Then again, I've thought that all season long.
Kentucky defense vs. Charlotte offense: Advantage Kentucky
Lost in last weeks debacle in Nashville was a solid performance by the UK defense. Granted, they were playing on offense that would probably punt more often than not in a game against Trinity, but give them their due. Take away that trick play, and UK would have allowed around 250 yards and no significant drives. This week, they get a Charlotte offense that is probably on par with Vandy's. The 49ers play a couple of QB's. The one that stands out is backup Matt Johnson. The junior is a dual threat that played quite a bit in last weeks loss to Texas-San Antonio (including the overtime). Johnson is a mediocre/poor passer and average runner, but we all know what UK's defense can make average players look like. RB Kalif Phillips is closing in on 1000 yards, but he injured a knee last week and didn't return. He's expected to play against UK. Overall, the 49ers are run heavy offensively. Charlotte's workhorse WR is JR Austin Duke. Duke has nearly double the number of receptions (47) as the next receiver (25). Overall, expect a lot of run and quick passes (and probably punts). This is a matchup that Kentucky should win with ease.
Special Teams: Advantage Charlotte
I know NOTHING about the 49ers special teams, but I know they can't be any worse than Kentucky's. Seriously, I don't know that a special teams unit could be worse than what we have in Lexington. In less than two years, Kentucky has allowed SIX returns for touchdown. I'm betting there are programs that haven't allowed six this century (UK hasn't had one in five years). The returns are just part of the problem. UK has had penalties BEFORE field goals and punts. UK gets a flag on virtually every PR. Landon Foster has been awful this season. At least we have MacGinnis!
Charlotte will win if...hell freezes over. Yeah, I'm that confident Probably shouldn't be, but I am.
Kentucky will win if...they show up and spend at least half of the day not killing themselves.
Most important thing for Kentucky...get Drew Barker as many snaps as they can.
Prediction...Kentucky 45 Charlotte 13...Last week, I picked UK to score 17. A minor miracle considering some of my other picks. This week, UK should score more than 45, but we all know they'll cost themselves at least 21 points with mental errors. With that being said, I think the presence of Barker will give UK some renewed energy. Charlotte scores on a kick return and two field goals after UK turnovers (LOLOL).
Previous Picks
Kentucky 55 Louisiana 10 (UK 40-33)
Kentucky 34 S Carolina 31 (UK 26-22)
Kentucky 27 Florida 23 (UF 14-9)
Kentucky 24 Missouri 17 (UK 21-13)
Kentucky 48 EKU 10 (UK 34-27)
Kentucky 31 Auburn 24 (AU 30-27)
Miss St 38 Kentucky 31 (MSU 42-16)
Tennessee 38 Kentucky 37 (UT 52-21)
Georgia 27 Kentucky 17 (UGA 27-3)
Kentucky 17 Vanderbilt 10 (VU 21-17)
GBB!!!
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